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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-09-16, Page 3Clinton hospital gives hospice service better access to community Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Being in a central location to the residents it serves was key to the Huron Hospice Vol- unteer Service's (HHVS) move to the Clinton Public Hospital. For 20 years HHVS was located in the Seaforth Com- munity Hospital but the team needed more space to con- tinue its programs and ser- vices. Shirley Dinsmore, exec- utive director of HHVS, said the Clinton location offers HHVS a bigger space and a better location. Dinsmore said the staff at CPH and the community have been completely supportive of the move since it relocated last November. HHVS offers a wide range of services to Huron County. It is a team of volunteers who provide support for people who are facing life threatening illness or injury. Relief to car- egivers in a home, hospital or long-term care facility for no charge, support groups and educational resources are just some of the services offered by HHVS. HHVS is a volunteer service relying on the care and com- passion of people who are willing to dedicate their time and effort to help those in need. Kay Mailloux, chair of the HHVS board of directors was honoured with the June Callwood award. Hospice Pal- liative Care Ontario awards outstanding hospice volun- teers throughout the province since 1994. At the HHVS annual gen- eral meeting on September 8, Jackie Simpson, manager of programs and volunteers, pre- sented a new initiative called the "H2 project: Healing the Hurt': The project is meant to edu- cate and support children and youth who have experienced loss. Bereavement support is a branch of HHVS, which is where this program comes in, explained Simpson. Simpson comes from an education background having being a principal in the school system for a number of years. She noticed many children and youth dealing with unre- solved loss in their lives and there was never a part of the curriculum that taught stu- dents how to deal with it. There is also a growing demand for grief support in Huron County, said Simpson. HHVS has supported adults in the past but there is an increas- ing need for children and youth tailored support The H2 program is a 10 week program aimed at students from grade seven to 12. Trained professionals would be brought in by HHVS to teach youth how to deal with loss in a healthy way. "We really want to make it clear that helping children deal with loss is not just loss due to death. It's around losses in their lives including things such as separation, divorce and mov- ing," said Simpson. If grief isn't dealt with prop- erly it can lead to mental health issues in the future for children and youth. "We're looking at this as a way of preventing our youth developing more severe mental health issues;" said Simpson. The HHVS is hoping to start the project this Fall after a suc- cessful preliminary run last Spring. For more information on the H2 project and for afull range of services offered contact the HHVS at 519-482-3440 ext 6301 or online at www.huronhos- pice.com. Wednesday, September 16, 2015 • News Record 3 Laura Broadley Clinton News Record The Huron Hospice Volunteer Service moved to its new location inside the Clinton Public Hospital last November. The new site offers a bigger space and a more central location in the area. Picture here, from left to right, Jackie Simpson, Keshia Feeney, Kay Mailloux and Shirley Dinsmore (sitting). County to assess potential contaminated sites Laura Broadley Clinton News Record As part of new policy Huron County will look to establish a liability for contaminated sites. County treasurer, Michael Blumhagen explained to the committee of the whole that the policy requires that the site be inactive. If any part of the site is in productive use it does not fall under the policy. Only when the entire site is deemed inactive will it move forward to identify whether there is any potential for contamination. Blumhagen said it estab- lishes a standard for munici- palities to account for the lia- bilities associated with the remediation of contaminated Design underway for the Clinton Skate Park Laura Broadley Clinton News Record The Clinton Skate Park moved one step further last week. The Central Huron Parks Steer- ing Committee has been hard at work visiting different skate parks in the area. The committee presented its findings to council on September 8. Some members said it had noticed a vast difference in skate parks where wood had been used as opposed to concrete. They said wood deteriorated much quicker and said proceeding with a concrete park would be in the best interest of the municipality in the long term. Cracking of the concrete is a concern for the committee because there is only a one year warranty but they were told repairs usually aren't cost or labour intensive. The committee requested council approve a design and tendering package for $13,000. The park is at a point where con- cept plans are needed to move forward. Central Huron CAO, Peggy Van Mierlo-West said a lot of grants look for "shovel -ready" projects that already have a design in place. "We're also finding when we're fundraising, going out to the pub- lic, requesting fundraising and not having a defined concept plan people tend to be a little drawn back regarding that," said Van Mierlo-West. Councillor Marg Anderson said she didn't support the motion because she didn't know why a design package would cost any- thing. She said when a playground in Auburn was being designed there was no cost associated. Council passed the motion by a slim margin. sites. Remediation will be required if it exceeds stand- ards set out by the Ministry of Environment. There could be potential for financial impact on the county through this standard depending on the amount and estimated remediation liabilities of the contaminated sites, said Blumhagen. Preliminary estimations conclude there maybe two or three inactive sites in the county, Blumhagen explained. A phase one assessment would cost about $4,000 per site for a consultant to deter- mine if there is a potential for contamination. Blumhagen said the county has $8,000 in the budget for risk management. B1 inicipi=dity nit STRATEGIC PLAN 2015 www.bluewatersvoice.com FINAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION SESSION: Thurs Sept 17th 7:OO p.m. Stanley Complex, Varna YOUR VOICE COUNTS!